Sunday, October 23, 2011

The planners for this mucky development wanted British Waterways to move the tidal limit (at Shortwall) a few hundred metres downstream so that they would see a canal like waterway, rather than the mud at low tide (twice a day). What they do not know is that Prescott Lock and the weir at Shortwall are there for the next few years. But if the Environment Agency give the word, then the £20 million lock and weir will be de-commissioned (if they assess that there is a flood risk). At that point, the waters will be tidal up the Lea Bridge Sluices again. Chew on that, Ikea boys!

Strand means beach, of course.

And those "water taxis"? The Water Chariots scheme is still beached at Limehouse Basin, due to Tower Hamlets Planning rejected the scheme (they applied for a Lawful Development Certificate), requiring that British Waterways go through an Environmental Impact Assessment (consultation). The appeal by British Waterways is still with the Secretary of State.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Gonzogeography is a version of psychogeography which is narrated subjectively, often including the participant as part of the journey via a first person narrative. The style tends to blend factual and fictional elements to emphasize an underlying message and engage the reader. The word Gonzo was first used in 1970 to describe an article by Hunter S. Thompson, who later popularized the style. The term has since been applied to other subjective artistic endeavors.

Gonzogeography tends to favor style over accuracy and often uses personal experiences and emotions to provide context for the topic or event being covered. It disregards the 'polished' edited product favored by newspaper media and strives for the gritty factor. Use of quotations, sarcasm, humor, exaggeration, and even profanity is common. The use of Gonzogeography portends that geography can be truthful without striving for objectivity and is loosely equivalent to an editorial.